Nazi Use of Toy Films for Propaganda Revealed in London

An attempt to spread Nazi propaganda in England by means of “cinema toys” imported from Germany was revealed here today with the announcement that the Woolworth Company operator of five and ten cent stores, had withdraw the toys from sale upon discovery that they contained scenes of Jew baiting and outdoor Nazi meetings in the Reich. The toy films, which bore “Made in Czechoslovakia” marking, had been sold to the Woolworth firm as containing scenic views of various countries and sporting events They had been so described in the import manifest. When reproduced, however, the films were found to include such Jew baiting scenes in Germany as aged women being forced to sweep streets while a large crowd laughed Other scenes showed outdoor Nazi meetings, close ups of Hitler giving the Nazi salute and shots of Hitler and Mussolini.

Alexander Nissen, manager of the Woolworth store at Bradford, declared today that he was ordered by the company s headquarters to discontinue sale of the films when their true character was discovered. “There is no doubt,” he said “that had our buyer known the type of pictures supplied he would not have bought them.”